Barisal-Kuakata Highway
Illegal structures built under bridges
OUR CORRESPONDENT, Patuakhali
Influential people have built a number of illegal structures under Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Rasel Bridges on the Barisal-Kuakata Highway. Groups have also built illegal structures by occupying land of roads and highways. The owners, after building the structures, sell or rent these to floating businessmen in the area. Sources said, ruling party backed influential people with support from dishonest employees of Roads and Highways Department are getting rich by running such illegal activities. During a visit to Sheikh Kamal Bridge area recently, it was seen that illegal structures were built by occupying a large part of the area under Sheikh Kamal Bridge. This illegal work was done in presence of roads and highways staff, said locals. They also said that ruling party activists supervised the building of these illegal structures. Now, these are bent sold or rented to local traders. The Roads and High Ways Department is also playing an inactive role over the issue, sources alleged. On October 21, 2015, the Roads and Highways served notice to illegal structure owners to remove their structure from Roads and Highways land and under bridge areas within seven days. But no action has been taken afterwards. Locals have urged the authorities concerned to demolish these illegal structures to ensure accident free roads. When contacted over the matter, M Humayun Kabir Panna, Sub-assistant engineer of Roads and Highways Department, Patuakhali, said an eviction drive against illegal structures will begin here soon.
